Cuba No Longer Insists That U.s. Silence Radio Marti, Officials Say

July 9, 1986|New York Times

WASHINGTON -- As part of a possible agreement on reinstating immigration with the United States, Cuba reportedly has dropped its insistence that Washington cease operations of Radio Marti, which broadcasts to Cuba, administration officials said Tuesday.

Instead, the Cubans indicated in advance of new negotiations that they are now seeking an agreement from the United States recognizing their right to broadcast over an AM frequency in the United States to match the Voice of America`s Radio Marti transmissions, the officials said.

Negotiations began Tuesday in Mexico City on resuming the 1984 immigration accord that was suspended last year by Fidel Castro, the Cuban leader, when Radio Marti began broadcasting to Cuba.

Until now, the Cubans had insisted that the immigration accord could not be reinstated until Radio Marti went off the air. No details on Tuesday`s talks were available, and it was unclear how long the talks might take.

The new approach on seeking equal access in the United States was described as more acceptable by administration officials, since there is no practical way of stopping Cuba from broadcasting.

The 1984 immigration accord, the only significant agreement between the Reagan administration and the Castro government, was worked out in December 1984. It provided for the repatriation to Cuba of some 2,700 Cuban criminals and mental patients, who came to the United States as part of the 1980 boatlift from the Cuban port of Mariel.

In return, the United States agreed to resume processing the emigration from Cuba of some 3,000 former political prisoners and to once again issue normal immigration visas to as many as 20,000 Cubans a year.